Coin-operated weighing and dispensing device



April 1940- y K. B. NELSON, 2.198.012

COIN-OPERATED WEIGHING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Film! Sept. 30. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Am T INVENTOR April 23, 1940. K. a. NELSON COIN-OPERATED WEIGHING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES COIN-OPERATED WEIGHING AND DISPENSING nnvrca Kurt B. Nelson, Pittsburgh. Pa.

Application September 30, 1936, Serial No. 103,301

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a. coin-operated device for dispensing fluid and, in particular, to a device for accurately measuring the material before dispensing it. The device has a wide range of uses which will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

Numerous forms of liquid dispensers operated by coins have been known heretofore, but none of them, so far as I am aware, approach the degree of accuracy in measurement which is required in certain applications. It is an object of my invention, therefore, to improve upon devices of this character which have been known previously by providing a dispenser which is capable of drawing liquid from an original container and measuring it with extreme accuracy before dispensing it. Other features of novelty characterizing my invention relate to the handling of the coins used to operate the measuring mechanism.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a dispensing receptacle and a siphon adapted to draw liquid from a supply container located above the receptacle. A measuring receptacle is movably mounted below the dispensing receptacle. Valve mechanism controlled by movement of the measuring receptacle admits fluid from the dispensing receptacle to the measuring receptacle. Such movement of the measuring receptacle is efiected by coin-operated mechanism. For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings, Fig. l is an elevation showing the apparatus mounted on a panel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the panel in section;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the panel itself;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail;

Fig 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Fig. l; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of Fig. l.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the apparatus of my invention is adapted for mounting on a panel In having a coin slot H, a recess 5 I2 for the consumers receptacle, a window l3 behind which a supply container I4 is disposed so that the label on the container may be read through the window, and a slug-detecting window l5.

The apparatus mounted on the back of the panel l0 comprises a shelf bracket It for supporting the supply container I4, a dispensing receptacle H, a siphon l8 connecting the receptacle and the container, a measuring receptacle l9, and other elements which will be described in detail 5 hereinafter.

The siphon l8 comprises a limb 20 adapted to be inserted in the container I4 and a limb 2| extending through a two-hole stopper 22 in the receptacle [1. The limb 20 may be inserted through a one-hole stopper disposed in the mouth of the container l4, but this stopper must be vented to the atmosphere. The limbs 20 and 2| are connected by a swivel 23 comprising a cork sleeve 24 secured in a supporting collar 25 and bored to receive the angularly disposed ends of the limbs. A layer of wax 2B is poured into the bore through the cork sleeve before the limbs of the siphon are inserted. This facilitates rotation of the limbs in the sleeve and the maintenance of an air-tight seal between the sleeve and the limbs.

To insert the limb 20 in the container 4, the limb is swung to the position shown in dotted lines in 2, and'the container movedso that the limb reaches almostto the bottom thereof, whereupon the container and limb may be swung together toward the shelf bracket IS.

A suction pump 21, preferably of the bulb type, has a connection 28 to the interior of the receptacle I'l, extending through the stopper 22.

The receptacle I! is supported on the panel by bracket rings 29 secured thereto, and has a discharge port or hole 30 in its bottom. A valve 3|, preferably a glass ball, is ground to fit accurately in the opening 30 to seal it against discharge of fluid. The valve 3| is carried on a valve stem 32 depending below the receptacle [1.

The measuring receptacle I9 is seated in a holding ring 33 carried at one end of a lever 34 pivoted on a shaft 35. The shaft 35 is journaled in bearings carried on a bracket 36 secured to the panel. A stud 3! is secured to the lever 34 extending in line with the latter, as shown in Fig. 1. A nut 38 threaded on the stud 31 carries a loop 39 from which a counterweight 40 is suspended.

By reason of the pivotal mounting of the lever 34, the counterweight 40, when properly adjusted on the stem 31, tends to cause the measuring receptacle IE! to move toward the dispensing receptacle H. The measuring receptacle I! has a bottom discharge opening 4|. A valve 42 similar to the valve 3| is carried on the stem 32 for closing the opening 4| when the receptacle [9 is raised. Such movement of the receptacle is also effective to open the valve 3| after closing the Valve 42.

A shaft 43 is journaled in bearings 44 extending upwardly from the bracket 36 above the lever 34. A toggle linkage 45 has a member 45 secured to the shaft 43, and members 41 pivoted to the member 46 and to the lever 34 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When the linkage is extended, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, elevation of the receptacle I9 by the counterweight 40 is prevented. The linkage thus constitutes a mechanical lockout which must be tripped before the valves 3| and 42 can be actuated by movement of the receptacle I9 to admit fluid to the latter. I provide coin-operated mechanism, which I shall now describe in detail, for collapsing the linkage 45.

A coin chute 48 comprises a slug throwout section 49, a tilting arm and cooperating guide 5! and a slug-detector section 52. The slug throwout section 49 is disposed at an angle to the vertical and provided with a throwout opening 53. The arm 50 has an open ended pocket 54 for receiving a coin from the throwout section 49. The arm 59 is tiltable on a shaft 55 journaled in bearings 55 secured to the panel ID. A link 5'! is pivoted to the arm 5|] beyond the shaft 55. The other end of the link 51 is pivoted to a crank arm 58 rigid with the shaft 43. The arm 58 has a counterweight providing a sufficient pull on the link 5'! to hold the parts in the illustrated position until a coin reaches the pocket 54.

When a coin deposited in the slot traverses the section 49 of the chute and drops into the pocket 54, the impact is suflicient to swing the latter downward into the upper end of the slugdetector section 52, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the arm 50 reaches this position the coin escapes therefrom and rolls on down the section 52. The coin is held in the pocket as the arm swings down by the guide 5|.

The downward swing of the arm 50 raises the crank arm 58 and turns the shaft 43 to collapse the linkage 45. This permits the counterweight to raise the receptacle |9, closing valve 42 and opening valve 3|. An additional counterweight 59 is carried on a flexible arm 60 extending upwardly from the lever 34. This counterweight can be adjusted by bending the arm 60. This adjustment, together with that of the counterweight 40, permits the device to be controlled accurately for measuring precisely the desired amount of fluid.

The weight of the fluid flowing into the receptacle [9 from the receptacle I'l overbalances the counterweights 40 and 59 when a predetermined amount of fluid has been admitted to the receptacle l9. The latter thereupon drops, closing valve 3| and opening valve 42. The fluid in the receptacle 19 then runs out into a funnel 6|, and thence into a consumers receptacle 62 in the recess l2. The restoration of the lever 34 to the illustrated position extends the linkage 45, and with the aid of the counterweight on the arm 58 restores the arm 50 to its normal position.

Coins running down the slug-detector section 52 land on a coin holder 53. This is preferably a rod having longitudinal grooves, mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis. The rod may conveniently be mounted on the shaft 64 jOllI- naled in suitable bearings carried on the panel ill. The coin holder 53 lies in an open-bottomed pocket 65 at the end of the section 52 and above a chute 58 leading to a coin box 51. The pocket 65 is just behind the slug-detector window l5.

The shaft 64 has a square nut 67 secured thereto. A spring strap 68 carried by the link 51 has sliding engagement with the nut 61, and a bend B9 in the strap is effective to notch the nut 81 around a quarter turn on each reciprocation of the link 51. The passage of successive coins through the chute 48 thus causes the holder 63 to turn and dump the coin previously deposited thereon into the chute 66. By this construction, each coin deposited remains in view behind the window l5 until the succeeding operation of the machine. This facilitates the detection of slugs, and acts as a deterrent to the use thereof.

The operation of the device, while it will probably be apparent from what has already been said, will be briefly reviewed here. The panel I0 is preferably hinged to a cabinet suitable for wall mounting. The container l4 may then be easily placed in position by swinging the panel out from the cabinet and tilting the limb 20 of the siphon |8. If the device is being placed in operation for the first time, it will be necessary to operate the bulb pump 21 to draw suflicient fluid from the container l4 to fill the receptacle l1. If an empty container I4 is being replaced, the receptacle I! will probably be full of liquid, because customers will not use the device when they observe through the window l3 that the supply in the container i4 is exhausted; although as a matter of fact, the device will dispense the contents of the receptacle I! even after the supply in the container M has all been drawn over into the receptacle. It will be understood that the valves must be in the illustrated position before operating the pump 21. The device is ready for operation as soon as the level of the fluid in the receptacle rises above the lower end of the limb 20.

A coin deposited in the slot ll, as already described, causes the arm 50 to swing. This rotates the shaft 43 and trips the lookout linkage 45. The counterweight 40 raises the receptacle or cup l9, closing the valve 42 and opening the valve 3|, whereupon fluid flows into the cup. When sufificient fluid has been delivered to the cup, the weight thereof overbalances the counterweight 40 and the other counterweights, and restores the cup I9, the linkage 45 and the arm 5|] to their illustrated positions, closing the valve 3| and opening the valve 42. The fluid in the cup l9 then runs out into the funnel 8| and the consumers receptacle 62 which must, of course, be placed under the funnel tip before the coin is deposited.

The coin rolls down the slug-detector section 52 onto the coin holder 53, the reciprocation of the link 51 having rotated the holder to discharge the coin previously deposited.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a highly useful and efficient mechanism for dispensing fluids. The construction is simple and inexpensive, yet sturdy and easy to maintain. Servicing the device is also a relatively simple matter. Its accuracy of measurement has already been mentioned. A particular advantage is that the device dispenses from the original container. This is a legal requirement for alcoholic beverages, in some states. Although controlled by weights and balances, the device operates very rapidly. The control valves require relatively little effort for their operation, yet can be made to seat very accurately, thus preventing leakage. The amount of fluid dispensed can readily be controlled by adjusting the counterweights.

The window |3 makes it possible for the customer to see that the fluid is being dispensed from the original container, and to choose his brand by the label on the container I4.

Although I have illustrated and described herein but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser comprising a measure mounted on a pivoted, counterweighted lever, and fluid supply means including means operable on tilting of the lever to admit fluid to said measure, the weight of the fluid in the measure tending to restore the lever to its original position, and a pair of toggle links pivoted to said lever and a fixed bearing respectively, said links being pivoted together, means normally holding said links in alinement thereby preventing tilting of the lever, and coin-operated means eifective to collapse said links to permit tilting of said lever.

2. A dispenser comprising a measure mounted on a pivoted, counterweighted lever, and fluid supply means including means operable on tilting of the lever to admit fluid to said measure, the weight oi: the fluid in the measure tending to restore the lever to its original position, and a pair of toggle links pivoted to said lever and a fixed bearing respectively, said links being pivoted together, means normally holding said links in alinement thereby preventing tilting of the lever,

and means under the control of a user, effective to collapse said links to permit tilting of said lever.

KURT B. NELSON. 

